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alp227

(32,037 posts)
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 07:06 PM Dec 2015

House Republicans Denounce Obama’s Handling of Prisoner Exchange

Last edited Fri Dec 11, 2015, 02:15 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — After months of secret talks in early 2014 on a potential deal to swap five Taliban detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for a captive American soldier, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, an agreement seemed near that May. But the chief American negotiator sent an email to the Pentagon warning that any leak could scuttle it.

“There is great concern all around about possible leaks,” the negotiator, Stephen W. Preston, then the general counsel of the Pentagon, wrote, according to an email cited by a new report. “This concern is exacerbated by the prospect of notification to our overseers” in Congress.

Twenty-nine days later, Islamist militants in Afghanistan turned over Sergeant Bergdahl, and only then, less than three hours before the American military put the five Taliban detainees on a plane to Qatar, did the Pentagon tell congressional leaders what was happening. But a statute restricting detainee transfers says that lawmakers must be told 30 days beforehand.

The news of the prisoner exchange, and the Obama administration’s failure to comply with the 30-day notice statute, set off a legal and political uproar and an investigation by the House Armed Services Committee. On Thursday, the committee’s Republican members will make public a report, obtained by The New York Times, that sheds new light on the administration’s secret maneuvers before the swap and portrays the deal as both reckless and illegal.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/us/politics/house-republicans-denounce-obamas-handling-of-prisoner-exchange.html

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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House Republicans Denounce Obama’s Handling of Prisoner Exchange (Original Post) alp227 Dec 2015 OP
Newsflash lark Dec 2015 #1
Is there anything, anything at all, sulphurdunn Dec 2015 #2
They're just piling on, piggybacking on the same claim that A.H. Trump COLGATE4 Dec 2015 #4
A H Trump. louis-t Dec 2015 #5
House Republicans Denounce Obama’s Tying of Neckties The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2015 #3
Those guys would denounce the way Obama ties his shoes! George II Dec 2015 #6
Hypocrites............................. turbinetree Dec 2015 #7
In other news..............................n/t gelsdorf Dec 2015 #8
Argue whether it was a good deal or a bad deal. That's an opinion Yupster Dec 2015 #9
The GOP would have leaked the info and got the guy killed. JoePhilly Dec 2015 #11
Maybe or maybe not Yupster Dec 2015 #12
They should try to impeach him over it. JoePhilly Dec 2015 #13
I wish presidents would be impeached when they break the law Yupster Dec 2015 #16
Oh, please. blackspade Dec 2015 #20
Constitutionally murky though. President is CIC yellowcanine Dec 2015 #24
The whining babies said what now?? JoePhilly Dec 2015 #10
They are trying to get in front/change this story. NPR's "Serial" is allowing the story to come out underpants Dec 2015 #14
Wake me when the Repugs DON'T denounce Obama for something he did eom LiberalElite Dec 2015 #15
I'm glad he got Bergdahl out, they would have killed him. Guantánamo sends out prisoners anyway. Sunlei Dec 2015 #17
The committee’s Republican members can fuck off. blackspade Dec 2015 #18
Benghazi Bergdahl Benghazi Bergdahl Benghazi Bergdahl Benghazi Bergdahl Benghazi Bergdahl Benghaz nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2015 #19
Kind of blurs together doesn't it? blackspade Dec 2015 #21
Yeah, the Republicans don't care so long as it blocks Obama and Democrats in any way possible. nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2015 #22
Would Republicans support Obama if Bergdahl had appeared in a beheading video? Midnight Writer Dec 2015 #23
 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
2. Is there anything, anything at all,
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 07:13 PM
Dec 2015

that this president has ever done, that these knuckle walking assholes have not denounced?

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)
4. They're just piling on, piggybacking on the same claim that A.H. Trump
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 07:21 PM
Dec 2015

made to his adoring audience of grade-school dropouts in S.C. 2 days ago. "Never let a good criticism of President Obama go to waste." (Attributed to Rinse Penis)

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,761 posts)
3. House Republicans Denounce Obama’s Tying of Neckties
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 07:19 PM
Dec 2015

They claim he should be using a four-in-hand instead of a Windsor knot, which they insist only aids and abets ISIS.

turbinetree

(24,703 posts)
7. Hypocrites.............................
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 07:43 PM
Dec 2015

they are just grand standing right wing hypocrites------------------these people are jerks, they will have a love fest of this in the coming four days when all of these chicken hawks and draft dodgers are going to get on stage, and scream and yell about this...................................



Someone should ask them if they know anything about Tora Bora, if they can connect the dots as to why this young man was over there based on a formula of out right incompetence from a right wing christian jerk by the name of George W Bush, and his criminal enterprise--------------------if they can not figure that out then they all need to resign, they can't think out of that tin foil box


There party has perpetuated this fiasco, of fear and hate while running around saying they are the defenders---------------defenders of what..........................

You know what congratulation President Obama----------------------you saved that young man's life


Honk-----------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016


Yupster

(14,308 posts)
9. Argue whether it was a good deal or a bad deal. That's an opinion
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 09:09 PM
Dec 2015

But there is a law that says congress has to be notified 30 days before moving someone from Gitmo.

The President purposely violated that law.

I will stand against any president purposely breaking the law.

Yupster

(14,308 posts)
16. I wish presidents would be impeached when they break the law
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 09:31 PM
Dec 2015

I bet it would make them more careful about breaking their oaths. It seems like each president decides he is an emperor and breaks whichever laws he doesn't like. Obama's worst to me was making recess appointments when the senate wasn't in recess. That's hardly an important issue, especially compared to Bush, but he did it with absolute impunity, just breaking the law with a shrug. But what happens to him? The Supreme Court votes 9-0 that he violated the Constitution, and he shrugs and moves on.

I worry for out system when presidents just break the law at their whim and nothing happens to them.

yellowcanine

(35,699 posts)
24. Constitutionally murky though. President is CIC
Fri Dec 11, 2015, 02:41 PM
Dec 2015

Prisoner exchanges is clearly within the jurisdiction of the CIC. The 30 day requirement would appear to be an unConstitutional constraint on the President being able to negotiate a prisoner exchange as CIC. You can be sure if G.W. Bush had done it the Republicans would have had no problem with it.

underpants

(182,843 posts)
14. They are trying to get in front/change this story. NPR's "Serial" is allowing the story to come out
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 09:21 PM
Dec 2015

I am not saying that this will be any vindication for Bergdahl but the whole story is very complicated. He shouldn't have walked off but the details of situation will grey the black/white issue as it has been presented.

blackspade

(10,056 posts)
18. The committee’s Republican members can fuck off.
Thu Dec 10, 2015, 09:51 PM
Dec 2015

They would have left Bergdahl over there to rot or be executed for their own political ambitions.
Obama did the right thing, rescue one of our own.

Midnight Writer

(21,770 posts)
23. Would Republicans support Obama if Bergdahl had appeared in a beheading video?
Fri Dec 11, 2015, 02:07 AM
Dec 2015

Hell no, they would denounce him for not doing enough to protect our soldier, and Bergdahl would be a Republican hero and talking point.

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